53 State Street, Part 1: Design & Fabrication
Exterior Signage, Others, Partners-Developers-Contractors, Residential Signage, Window and Door GraphicsThe Right Sign, Right on Time
Built in 1985, the towering 53 State Street building is tied with neighboring 60 State Street as Boston’s 12th tallest building. With tenants on all 40 floors, it’s a busy place.
And since it’s in the heart of Boston’s financial district, there’s traffic all around. Our challenge: to make the signs pop for drivers and pedestrians, in spite of all the hubbub surrounding the iconic skyscraper; to make sure the interior signage was brilliant enough to match the exterior image; and to ensure the sign installation not only complied with all city codes and safety standards, but that it didn’t create a snag for the considerable weekday traffic. Oh, and the installation had to be completed on a tight deadline – the owner, Lincoln Property Company, had a big event looming.
Hey, no problem. That’s what we do here at Metro.
Our Partners Appreciate Metro’s Professionalism
We partnered with Shawmut Construction and CBT Architects in the design/build phase, and worked closely with the architects when it was obvious we’d need to modify the signage to create the signs the client envisioned.
Custom Fabrication, Experienced Sign Fabricators
Because the polished chrome backer acted as a mirror while the client wanted a halo effect, our experienced fabricators added a plex outline to absorb the red LED lighting on the center band and to complement the white of the channel letters during the day (when the lights are off). The difficulty was remaining within what the Boston Redevelopment Authority would allow for signage while ensuring the signs would ‘pop’ on the chrome fascia.
Metro handled permitting for the job, which in this case required an Engineer Stamped Drawing (ESD) verifying attachment to the chrome panels. Metro also obtained BRA approval for the project.
Say it With Style, Inside and Out
Our designers and fabricators dreamed up and designed matching stainless steel letters for the interior stone wall. 
Once the signs were all approved and fabricated, all we had to do was set up installation. Piece of cake, right?
Well, almost. Read all about it in The Right Signs, Right on Time – 53 State Street, Part 2: Sign Up! (Installation)
